THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE DUTCH experience of the past several decades has undeniably demonstrated that their approach to ganja has been more positive than that of our friends to the North, whose model we have been following with little or no success. Ganja use by the Dutch youth is far less than that in countries with more restrictive laws.
America's experiment with alcohol prohibition resulted in unprecedented increases in crime and street violence spurred on by gangs fighting for control of turf. This is again playing itself out in the streets of America over ganja. We in Jamaica know this only too well.
If in U.S. Federal penitentiaries the sale and distribution of ganja cannot be controlled, how can they expect to do so on the streets? How can we be expected to do so in Jamaica with far less resources, with ganja-friendly communities and with many tourists seeking the herb while visiting.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
A system of taxation and regulation with controls and public education, especially aimed at the youth, would allow the market needs to be supplied with millions, perhaps billions of dollars, moving from the black market into the Ministry of Finance and legitimate capital investments. Canada recently licensed the first ganja-based medicines while we in Jamaica continue to retard research and development into this growing field which holds untold potential. The Dutch and Canadians also distribute medical ganja buds through their pharmacies.
I call upon Prime Minister Patterson, as a legacy to his leadership term, to implement the recommendations of the Chevannes National Commis-sion on Ganja which was endorsed by the Joint Select Committee of the Houses of Parliament his own Parliament.
This would legitimise that which is already a part of our tourism product mix, unleash the potential for Jamaican capital into research and development of ganja-based medicines and allow our police and justice resources to be focused on the cocaine trade and real crime and violence. In a globalised world, these are two areas in which we have natural comparative advantages.
I am, etc.,
PAUL CHANG
paul_chang@cwjamaica.com
National Alliance for the Legalisation of Ganja
PO Box 24
Laughlands, St . Ann
Via Go-Jamaica
